Overlooked candidate poised to have his say

Political Pulse

For many voters, the first and maybe the last time you'll see the unaffiliated candidate for the 8th Congressional District race will be at 4:30 p.m. today on PBS station WMFE-Channel 24.

The candidate, Wesley Hoaglund, 52, is running against U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, and marketer Democrat Charlie Stuart for a seat that reaches into Lake County.

Hoaglund, running as NPA or "no party affiliation," has had almost no attention in the race from the media, the other candidates, or just about anyone else.

In fact, at a recent Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce event, someone forgot to put his name on the straw-poll ballot for the race. And he even bought a display table. Hoaglund, who likes to be called Wes, said later that the chamber promised to return his money.

As a newcomer, he did pretty well in the debate. But he stumbled a few times, lost his train of thought once, and had incomplete sentences.

He has some sharp ideas -- including having the government launch a project to develop alternative energy and stop tossing around incentives to private industry.

He would ask for a program the size of the famed Apollo mission that took humans to the moon and back.

But his congressional campaign would need a project of a similar size if he wants to pull the heavily gerrymandered district, which stretches across four counties, from a three-term incumbent, or a man who comes from one of old Orlando's most prominent families.

Cost of running for Congress

The money spent so far in the contest for the 8th Congressional District seat would buy more than 30,600 one-day tickets to Walt Disney World, at $71 each.

Between incumbent Keller and the host of challengers in both the primary and general election, more than $2.17 million has been spent this year.

The biggest spender isn't even Keller.

That distinction goes to Democrat and Washington attorney Alan Grayson, who, according to the recent Federal Election Commission filings, spent $702,529 -- about 93 percent of it his own money.

Grayson, who lost in the primary, had a big media blitz, including billboards, fliers, a staff of 40 people working telephone banks and TV commercials.

Next in line is Keller himself, a three-term incumbent, whose recent trips to both the U.S.-Mexican border and to Iraq have been criticized as campaign stunts paid for by taxpayers.

Keller counters that he never takes trips paid for by special-interest groups and the trips make him a better congressman because he can go and see and learn for himself.

In total, Keller had spent about $650,000 as of Sept. 30, not counting the taxpayer-funded trips.

Keller, too, has had a big media campaign, with lots of radio and TV commercials and more expected.

Third in the spending line is Democrat Charlie Stuart, who had spent $626,778 as of Sept. 30.

He had a handful of commercial spots just before the primary, featuring retired senator and former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, touting Stuart's good character and Central Florida ties.

After that -- not a lot.

But he and his campaign staff say something is on the way.

The rest of the campaign money spent amounts to political small change. Republican Elizabeth Doran raised a total of $44,973, and according to the Web site opense crets.org, she spent all but one dollar.

Democrat and Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage spent $140,800.

Wesley Hoaglund, who is running as an unaffiliated candidate, has spent about $11,500.